The Cannon Falls Bears edged out the Rush Creek Spartans 4-0 at John Burch Park last Friday night behind a great effort on the mound from Bears newcomer Ryan Sheehan and some power hitting by Nolan Conzemius.
Sheehan started on the mound for Cannon Falls and pitched seven one-hit, shutout innings. He allowed just the one hit with five walks and seven strikeouts to earn the win. He was relieved by Tyler Johnston and Keith Meyers, both of whom threw a shutout inning of relief. Johnston gave up a hit and had a strikeout while Meyers struck out two batters.
Cannon Falls staked an early lead when Jack Meyers singled with two outs in the bottom of the first and then scored on an RBI-double from Beau Zimmerman. The Bears kept that one-run lead until the bottom of the seventh when Rich Burr turned back the clock and knocked a double off the left-center field fence to start the inning. He was pinch run for by Tyler Meyers, who scored on an RBI-sacrifice fly by another Bears newcomer, Ben Schmitz.
In the bottom of the eighth, Hayden Strain reached on an error to start the inning and then Conzemius hit one of the longest home runs hit recently at John Burch Park as he launched the ball up and over the football press box in left center. The Spartans, playing with just nine players, were unable to mount any comeback.
Aaron Lagios makes a diving catch in left-center field. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
Sheehan said it was his best outing of the summer as he continues to build back from an arm injury that kept him out most of his freshman season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth baseball team where he plays with Jack Meyers. He is from Bloomington and went to high school at Bloomington Kennedy.
“It felt pretty good, it felt good to go longer than a couple innings,” said Sheehan about his performance. “All my pitches were working, I was throwing some changeups too that they were missing which was pretty nice. I don’t think they touched an off-speed (pitch) but most importantly I was just throwing strikes.”
Bear newcomer Ryan Sheehan was stellar on the mound for the Bears in their victory over the Rush Creek Spartans last Friday, July 10. Sheehan pitched seven one-hit, shutout innings to earn the win and allowed just five walks with seven strikeouts. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
Sheehan said he throws a four-pitch mix of fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. After missing most of the school season, he also said he’s focusing on his development.
“I would say I’m working on controlling the game better, controlling the run game, just more importantly being in the zone. Trying to throw first-pitch strikes,” he explained.
Another Bears newcomer, Ben Schmitz, drives in an run with an RBI-sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
Cannon Falls is now 19-7 overall, 9-2 in the Classic Cannon Valley League (CCVL) and 7-0 in Region 5C. The Bears have six regular season games left as long as their matchup against the Rochester Royals from July 8 that was postponed is rescheduled. They also have an exhibition on Wednesday, July 15, at John Burch Park against the Prescott (WI) Pirates. The Bears were scheduled to travel to Lakeville Monday, July 13, after this article was written. Then on Friday, July 17, they have a rematch with Rush Creek in Rushford followed by a trip to The Ath in Red Wing against the Aces on Sunday. There are just three regular season games after that against Rochester, Red Wing and Wanamingo before the Region 5C Tournament.